The Irish and British governments have insisted today'sevents in Stormont would not disrupt efforts to securedevolved government for Northern Ireland.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said Stone's actions wouldstrengthen the Irish and British governments' resolve tosecure a deal in the North.

"It seems that Michael Stone has gone on the rampage again,in a very dangerous way. But he was stopped," Mr Ahern toldreporters in Dublin. "It just shows you exactly what we aretrying to get away from in Northern Ireland."

Mr Ahern was visibly angry as he spoke to reporters duringa visit to St Andrew's Resource Centre in central Dublin."Michael Stone is well-known to us from previous incidents.This is all a good example why an Assembly would be a goodidea."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted the St AndrewsAgreement remains the "only way forward" in the wake ofturbulent events at Stormont today.

Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Blair said he had watchedthe events unfold on television. "There's obviously been anattempt by a paramilitary to try and disrupt the events atStormont today," he said. "Instead of that putting us offprogress towards democracy, it's precisely what should makeus more resolute in confining that kind of activity to thepast, and making sure that democratically electedpoliticians are able to exercise their democratically givenpower without paramilitaries of any sort interfering withit."

He said he had spoken to both DUP leader the Rev IanPaisley and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, and wasdetermined that "paramilitaries" would not be allowed todisrupt democracy.

"No move forward in Northern Ireland is easy, we've learnedthat over 10 years, and it's not because the people, orindeed, the leaders in Northern Ireland want it to be so,but because each step towards a different and better futureis taken alongside the memory of a wretched and divisivepast."----

Cross-community Alliance Party leader David Ford's speechwas interrupted by the Michael Stone alarm but he continuedspeaking until Assembly Speaker Eileen Bell ordered MLAs toevacuate the building after 40 minutes of the sitting.

According to senior republican sources, the party willbegin to treat the Mid Ulster MP as if he already is inoffice as Deputy First Minister.

The party plans to appoint a number of advisers to MrMcGuinness, who was formally nominated by the partypresident Gerry Adams in the Assembly today.

And a series of meetings and photo-opportunities will bearranged and publicly presented as Mr McGuinness in hisrole as Deputy First Minister.

From next week, the party also intends to attempt to workmore closely with officials in the Office of First andDeputy First Minister, the sources said.

"From this point we intend to treat Martin McGuinness as ifhe already is Deputy First Minister," a senior source said.

The plan will, however, enrage the other parties,particularly the DUP, who are believed to have soughtassurances that the roles of First and Deputy FirstMinisters designate are totally unofficial.

Mr Adams also warned last night, however, that his partycould "walk away" today if the DUP fails to come up to themark on designations.

The West Belfast MP said if the DUP did not meet the"minimum requirement" the Government should pull down theshutters on the Assembly.

"At the very, very minimum, at the very least, there has tobe the nomination of the First and Deputy First Ministers.At the very least," he said.

"But if that doesn't happen, the governments need to movesmartly into the partnership arrangements which theysignalled up in Scotland."

But Dublin Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern reminded Sinn Feinit still has work to do on the vexed policing issue.

Addressing Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh in the Dail, hesaid: "There is a need for movement from Sinn Fein onpolicing. We would like to see the colour of your money inthat respect.

"We would like to see Sinn Fein propose an ard fheis (partyconference) so that they can discuss this among themselvesand hopefully move positively towards policing. So thesooner that happens, the better."

Mr Ahern also warned, however, that the British and Irishgovernments could still resort to 'Plan B', an enhancedrole for Dublin in administering Northern Ireland, if thedevolution blueprint falters.

"It is the case that if we fall at any hurdle, then we willgo to Plan B, but it is not the preferred option of theIrish Government or the British Government," he said.

"We want to see devolved government restored to NorthernIreland and we believe leadership is needed from the DUPand Sinn Fein to achieve this."

One of Northern Ireland's most notorious killers, MichaelStone, forced a dramatic suspension of the StormontAssembly today after throwing what he claimed was a bombinto Parliament Building.

In an extraordinary security breach, witnesses said thatthe former Ulster Freedom Fighters prisoner barged his waythrough the revolving doors of the building, shouting "nosurrender", and threw a bag inside.

Stone was seen with a firearm as he was wrestled to theground by security staff, but it was not clear if the gun,possibly a 9mm pistol, was real or imitation.

Earlier he had daubed in red paint on one of the pillarsoutside the main entrance a slogan proclaiming: "SinnFein/IRA scum."

Reuters reported that there was smoke coming out of the bagand the sounds of sparks. However, police said they couldnot confirm whether the bag contained any explosive device.

Stone, who once killed three people as he opened fire onmourners at an IRA funeral, was arrested.

The Rev Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams were among dozens ofpoliticians who were hurriedly evacuated from the building.Dr Paisley had just delivered a defiant speech in which herefused to accept a nomination as the future leader ofNorthern Ireland's power-sharing administration.

An emergency bell was sounded as David Ford, cross-community Alliance Party leader, was giving his reaction tothe day's proceedings.

He continued speaking for a while until the Speaker, EileenBell, ordered MLAs to evacuate the building after 40minutes of the sitting.

Stone is best known for the storming an IRA funeral in theCatholic Milltown Cemetery in 1988 with grenades and apistol, killing an IRA member and two civilians andinjuring 60 others.

The audacious attack was caught on television cameras. Healso confessed to shooting dead three other Catholicsbetween 1984 and 1987. He was jailed in 1989 for sixmurders and five attempted murders and given a 684-yearsentence, but he was released from the Maze prison inNorthern Ireland in 2000 as part of the Good Friday peaceagreement.

There was initial confusion as MLAs, their staff, employeesin Parliament Buildings, guests and media where ordered toleave the building.

Camera crews hovered along the east wing of the building assecurity staff held Stone down on the front steps in thedriving rain.

People were pushed further back from the building as policearrived putting up security tape to deal with the suspectdevice.

The Stormont Assembly was thrown into confusion and chaostoday when the former paramilitary gunman, Michael Stone,attempted to storm the building saying he had a bomb,reports David Sharrock, The Times's Northern IrelandCorrespondent.

"It was a confusing incident. A fire alarm went off atfirst during the debate and there was some confusion aboutwhether we would have to evacuate or not. Finally it becameclear that we had to.

"Then it became obvious quite quickly that the man who hadstormed the building was Michael Stone, a former loyalistterrorist, who had carried out an attack on an IRA funeralin the Milltown Cemetary in west Belfast in 1988, in whichhe killed three people.

"Stone was trapped as he tried to go through the revolvingdoors at the front of the building.

"The police are saying there was a live device. It lookedlike some kind of improvised bomb that he was carrying. Hewas held for sometime until police arrived and arrestedhim.

"He's now been taken by police for questioning and may becharged.

"Stormont has been suspended. We won't be allowed back inthe building for the rest of the day. The entrance has beencordoned off by police.

"Security generally was very good at Stormont. It has beenrelaxed in recent years because of the downgrading of thesecurity risk in Northern Ireland in general.

"But it's also got to be said that the Stormont grounds arepublic. People have public access and use it to walk theirdogs.

"In principle it's very simple and straightforward to walkup to the front of the Parliament Building. Stone alsodidn't get inside the building, he got as far as theentrance.

"Stone could be described as a cult figure for loyalistsbecause of his attack. He said afterwards that his targetswere Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

"He was given a 684-year prison sentence in 1989 for themurder of six people and the attempted murder of fivepeople. He was freed, along with hundreds of others underthe terms of the Good Friday agreement in 2000.

"He has been making a living as an artist. He paintsabstract and expressionist paintings which tend to belarge, very gaudy and brightly coloured."

Loyalist Michael Stone has been arrested after enteringStormont builidings during a key debate on Assemblynominations.

Witnesses said loyalist Michael Stone walked into thebuilding shortly after 11am, threw a bag at security staffand claimed there was a bomb in it.

He shouted "no surrender" before being tackled to theground by security staff.

Police said the building was evacuated following reports ofa live device. The meeting was being held to hear if theDUP and Sinn Fein would indicate candidates for first anddeputy first minister posts.

During the debate DUP leader Ian Paisley carried out histhreat not to fully nominate a First Minister as he accusedSinn Fein of failing to fulfil its obligation to acceptpolicing.

Mr Paisley said that the St Andrews Agreement was built onthe twin pillars of DUP acceptance of power-sharing andSinn Fein's acceptance of policing. However, he said thatsince Sinn Fein was not ready to take the next step his"party was under no obligation" to make a nomination.

During a stormy meeting which was disrupted when MLAs wereforced to evacuate the chamber following a fire alarm, SinnFein leader Gerry Adams nominated Martin McGuinness asDeputy First Minister. Earlier, Secretary of State PeterHain had threatened to dissolve the Assembly if Sinn Feinand the DUP failed to find a compromise to move towardsdevolution.

Behind the scenes discussions continued, however, to find aform of words to allow the Government to argue thepolitical process - and the prospect of a power-sharingExecutive by next March remains on track.

This week, in what Downing Street characterised as a"critical moment" for Northern Ireland, the Assembly met inits first major test since the St Andrews Agreement lastmonth.

The Agreement, carved out over three days of negotiations,had envisaged today as a major symbolic act which couldinject confidence into the political process anddemonstrate Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness could potentiallyshare office.

But today's moves will involve pain for both parties.

The DUP is facing unease within its core support base,particularly the Free Presbyterian Church.

And there is disquiet in republican ranks also, as pressureincreases on Sinn Fein to move towards a definitive verdict- involving a meeting of its ard fheis - on policing.

And shortly before the meeting, Secretary of State PeterHain warned he could still shut the Assembly down, even viaa second meeting later today.

"I have got a dissolution order - we're prepared to use itif it looks at any time as if there's no prospect at all ofdevolving power on 26 March, after an election," he said.

And he insisted the parties had signed up to the St Andrewsframework and current timetable, including a new Assemblyelection on March 7.

"And what's important about today - and all the partiessigned up to the process today, to give an indication thaton 26 March, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness would beFirst and Deputy First minister respectively - they allsigned up to that process and they now need to indicatewhether they're going to fulfil that agreement."

Sinn Fein had said, however, it would not repeat its actionearlier this year when Mr Adams nominated Mr Paisley forFirst Minister.

"It is different standing orders," a spokesman said.

When Mr Adams proposed Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness for theFirst and Deputy First Ministers' positions, the suggestionwas angrily rejected by the DUP leader

Hoping for a better outcome today, Mr Hain added: "What isimportant today is that there is a fresh dose of confidenceinjected into the process.

"We had a Programme for Government earlier this week, withall the parties at most senior levels represented, and wetook the St Andrews legislation through Parliament.

"We as a Government, together with the Irish Government,have done our bit. It is up to the parties to play theirpart. I cannot be certain what the outcome will be today."

The Irish Government also warned that the so-called 'planB', an enhanced role for Dublin in the day-to-dayadministration of Northern Ireland, could still be put intoeffect if the devolution blueprint collapses.

Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said: "It is the casethat if we fall at any hurdle, then we will go to plan B,but it is not the preferred option of the Irish Governmentor the British Government.

"We want to see devolved government restored to NorthernIreland and we believe leadership is needed from the DUPand Sinn Fein to achieve this."

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) - Northern Ireland'spoliticians missed another deadline for forming a power-sharing government Friday, then fled from the building asone of Northern Ireland's most infamous Protestantmilitants burst in claiming to have a bomb.

The attack came shortly after Protestant leader Ian Paisleyrefused a nomination as the future head of NorthernIreland's power-sharing administration.

Paisley, whose Democratic Unionist Party is the largest inNorthern Ireland, said he would work with Sinn Fein, theIrish Republican Army-linked party that represents mostCatholics, only when it supports the police force. If thathappened, Paisley said he would accept the post.

"When Sinn Fein has fulfilled its obligations with regardto the police, the courts and the rule of law, then andonly then can progress be made. There can and will be nomovement until they face and sign up to their obligations,"Paisley told the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Shortly after his speech, police subdued Michael Stone, theProtestant extremist who killed three people at a Belfastfuneral in 1988, after he tossed a bag into the buildingand claimed it contained a bomb.

Politicians and journalists were ordered out of thebuilding as the fire alarm sounded - and two securityguards pinned Stone by both arms to the main doorway.

Police could not immediately confirm whether the bag in thefoyer of Stormont Parliamentary Building containedexplosives. Stone had tossed it at the building's securitycheckpoint staff, who operate metal detectors and searchbags.

Stone appeared to have been spray-painting the entrance toStormont with the slogan "Sinn Fein are murderers," butsecurity staff stopped him before he could finish the lastword.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the disruption"should make us more resolute."

He called on "all the parties to turn their minds also tothe issues of concern to Northern Ireland's people - theeconomy, education, health, law and order - and show thatthe democratic process is alive and well and capable ofdelivering a better future."

Stone was paroled from prison under terms of NorthernIreland's 1998 peace accord, which permitted early releasesfor more than 500 convicted members of the IRA and outlawedProtestant paramilitary groups.

"Stone was convicted for committing one of the province'smost audacious terro have a dissolution order drafted,which would have to go through Parliament of course nextweek, and I might have to deploy that today. I hope not,"Hain said.

Friday was a British-imposed deadline for Paisley andMartin McGuinness, deputy leader of Sinn Fein, the largestCatholic-backed party, to be nominated to serve in the toptwo power-sharing posts. The event would have been purelysymbolic, because the full 12-member administration wouldnot be formed and given powers until late March.

At stake is the revival of power-sharing, the central goalof the Good Friday accord - a landmark 1998 pact thatPaisley opposed chiefly on the grounds it required toolittle from Sinn Fein.

For weeks, Paisley has insisted he will not accept theoffice of first minister, the top post, until Sinn Feinabandons its decades-old policy of boycotting the policeforce in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein insists it will notdiscuss changing its policy until after McGuinness andPaisley are in office.

In a sign of Britain's desperation to keep the push forpower-sharing alive, Blair spoke by phone Thursday nightwith Paisley and at one point was considering flying toBelfast on Friday, but relented when it became clear thatdirect intervention would make no difference, officials inthe British government and Paisley's party said.

Senior Free Presbyterian cleric the Rev Ivan Foster hasshut down discussion about the DUP on his Burning Bushwebsite, it emerged today.

The former DUP Assembly

member, who has warned that most church members areheartbroken at the prospect of their Moderator, the Rev IanPaisley, going into government with Sinn Fein, said he didnot want the website "dominated" with political comment.

Mr Foster, a close associate of the DUP leader for morethan 40 years, took the decision to suspend politicalcomment before going public with his warning that mostchurch members oppose Mr Paisley sharing power with SinnFein, and particularly Martin McGuinness.

Mr Foster wrote: "As from now, I am suspending untilfurther notice the whole exchange regarding the DUP and itspart in the present crisis.

"This site has always been open to political comments butof late it has dominated it and that is not what I wouldwish for this site."

And he also replied on the site to one contributor:"Repeated abuse of Ian Paisley is not the answer to thedifficulties we are in. This is not a time to settle oldscores."

His move to shut down further comment came afterincreasingly vehement criticism of the DUP.

One Portadown man, a regular contributor, had said: "Likemany watching the current situation I genuinely am at aloss as to why Ian Paisley has so moved from his previouslyheld position.

"As I look at the history of Northern Ireland I cannot seehow, unless there has been some sort of political Damascusexperience, Ian Paisley can be leading his people in thisway."

Speaking on the BBC's Talkback programme, he added: "Iunderstand there is a section of our community who will notaccept Sinn Fein in government in any context, even withinour own party. I understand where those people are comingfrom.

"But as a political party we have to deal with therealities. Sinn Fein are facing major problems as well. Thebottom line is that we want to move forward in NorthernIreland."

The minister was commenting after his appointment of BerthaMcDougall last year as the interim commissioner wasquestioned by a High Court judge for not following properappointment procedures.

Mr Justice Girvan, who accused the Government of making apolitical appointment designed to appease the DemocraticUnionists, has ordered the Attorney General, LordGoldsmith, to investigate whether Mr Hain and his officialsmisled the High Court during a judicial review into theappointment of Mrs McDougall.

As the Attorney General studied the questions put to him bythe judge, Mr Hain confirmed that he had not discussed thematter with Prime Minister Tony Blair.

And he also held out the possibility that the Britishgovernment could appeal against the High Court's ruling.

"We are waiting for the final episode in the courtproceedings next week," he said. "We are studying thejudgment very carefully and when the Attorney General'sinquiry is concluded, we will see what that says.

"It is important that everybody understands - and it isclear that not everybody does - that we asked BerthaMcDougall to prepare a report on the victims' issue for meand the incoming permanent Victims' Commissioner who willgo through the standard public appointments procedure.

"This will enable the Victims' Commissioner, when he or sheis appointed, to get off to a flying start. I make noapology for doing that.

"The cause and the interests of victims has been badlyneglected for far too long. What we want to see is a freshrecognition and momentum for victims in Northern Ireland."

The judicial review was taken by Brenda Downes, whosehusband, Sean, was killed by a plastic bullet fired by theRoyal Ulster Constabulary during a republican rally.

Mrs Downes argued that the appointment of Mrs McDougallcame as a bolt out of the blue for victims' representativesand families, who did not know there were plans to appointan interim commissioner. She argued that the appointment ofMrs McDougall, whose husband was shot dead by the IrishNational Liberation Army while serving as an RUC Reservist,was a sop to the DUP and had not been handled according toproper appointments procedure.

Mrs Downes also queried, given the way the appointment washandled, whether Mrs McDougall could truly enjoy theconfidence of victims from all backgrounds in NorthernIreland.

The top law officer investigating whether Peter Hain or topofficials deliberately misled the High Court yesterdaywarned publication of his probe may be limited or delayed.

Attorney General Lord Goldsmith told peers in the House ofLords said it is his "intention" to publish the results ofthe inquiry. But, he said its full publication depends onwhether its findings spark disciplinary action or "otherproceedings".

Lord Goldsmith agreed to establish an inquiry earlier thisweek into whether there was a deliberate attempt by the NIOto mislead the court over the process for appointinginterim Victims Commissioner, Bertha McDougall.

It followed a damning judgment by Mr Justice Girvan in theHigh Court that "misleading" evidence had been provided tothe court.

The inquiry by the Government's most senior law officeropens up the possibility of a criminal investigationbecause deliberately misleading a court could amount toattempting to pervert the course of justice.

Lord Goldsmith yesterday confirmed he will appoint an"independent person" to carry out a review and then reportits findings to him.

"This hasn't yet been finalised. I need to identify theright person and see that the person is available to doit," he said.

He said his department was writing to legal teams acrossWhitehall "drawing this case and my review to theirattention and reminding them of the need and importance ofensuring awareness of the duty of candour both by lawyersand clients".

Former Tory Chancellor Lord Lawson asked whether his reviewwould be published. Lord Goldsmith replied: "It is myintention that the report should be published.

"I have to recognise, however, that issues may arise whichmight limit or delay that; for example, if for any reasonit were to lead to disciplinary or other proceedings."

Lord Goldsmith was speaking in the upper chamber yesterdayafter being quizzed by former Ulster Unionist leader LordTrimble, who said it is "quite exceptional" for a judge tocall for a high-level inquiry into the conduct of aSecretary of State and senior officials.